Jewelry including means causing intermittent illumination



R. E. WOOD May 21, 1968 JEWELRY INCLUDING MEANS CAUSING INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION Filed Sept. 24, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l /NvE/Yrag RoERT f. Waan May 21, 1968 R, E. WOOD 3,384,740

JEWELRY INCLUDING MEANS CAUSING NTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION Filed Sept. 24, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 21, 196s R'. WOOD 3,384,740

JEWELRY INCLUDING MEANS CAUSING INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION vFiled sept. 24, 1965 5 sheets-sheet s /N VEN 70A Raaf/w f. 14/000 3,384,740 JEWELRY INCLUDING MEANS CAUSING INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION Robert E. Wood, Racine, Wis. (R.D. 1, Box 332C, Ashland, Ohio 44805) Filed Sept. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 489,928 1 Claim. (Cl. 24U-6.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An article of personal jewelry provided with an electrical cell and a lamp. An ornamental member is mounted on the body of the article by means of flexible metal members, which members are part of a make-and-break circuit actuated by vibration of the ornamental member upon movement, causing one of the flexible members to engage a switch member, resulting in an intermittent flashing of the lamp. Means is provided to prevent closing the circuit when desired.

This invention relates to costume jewelry, and especially to such jewelry having illuminating means integral therewith, and an object thereof is to provide an added attraction to such jewelry.

Another object is to provide an illuminating means integral with an article of jewelry.

Another object is to provide means to cause the illumination to be intermittent because of the movements of the body of the wearer.

Another object is to provide means to prevent illumination when the article is not being worn.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accom panying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown. It is 4to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an earring embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the earring of FIG. 1, partly in section.

FIG. 3 is a view taken at 3-3 of FIG. 2 and with parts broken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view with parts broken away, showing the switch lever in position for intermittent operation.

FIG. 5 is a section taken at 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a section taken at 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a modification of the earring of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7.

Costume jewelry, while attractive, has often a lifeless appearance, and loses its appeal if worn frequently. This invention adds a feature to costume jewelry such as earrings and similar articles of ornamentation that enhances their attractiveness.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an earring which embodies the preferred form of the invention, and which comprises a body portion 10 having the customary earlobe clamp 12 and a pendant or ornamental portion 14.

Body 10 is in this instance, is of transparent plastic material and preferably of the circular shape shown. In this instance a chamfer 16 is provided for the purpose of ornamentation. A cavity 18 is provided at the back of body 10 to receive a mercury cell 20 of the type customarily used in hearing aids. Cell 20 comprises a shell 22 which provides one of the electrical poles, and a pad 24 which provides the other electrical pole of the cell.

' United States Patent O 3,384,740 Patented May 21, 1968 ICC Shell 22 and pad 24 are electrically insulated from each other by insulating material as at 26. Cylindrical body portion 28 of cell 20 is of a diameter to support cell 20 axially in the cavity 18. Shell 22 flares outwardly as shown and protrudes beyond .the back face 30 of body 10 to permit easy removal of the cell 20 when the latter is to be replaced.

Pendant 14, in this instance, is of transparent plastic material, and of any desired configuration; the star shown being preferred. Pendant 14 is spaced from the face 32 of body 10 and and is resiliently supported on the body by slender filaments or -wires 34 and 36. These wires are embedded in the plastic of body 10. To assure freedom for exing of filaments or wires 34 and 36, bores 38 and 40 are provided in body 10 surrounding the wires.

A cavity 42 in face 32 receives a sub-miniature lamp 44 having leads 46 and 48. Filament 34 extends into cavity 18 as shown in FIG. 2, and has a portion 50 in contact with the bottom of cavity 18, and which portion 50 provides a contact with pad 24 of cell 20. Portion 50 continues in a terminal portion 52 which extends into cavity 42. Lead 46 of lamp 44 is soldered to portion S2.

Filament 36 is similar to filament 34 with respect lto its purpose and comprises a portion 54 and a terminal portion 56 which extends into cavity 42. Lead 48 of lamp 44 is soldered to portion 56.

Flament portions 34 and 36, and terminal portions 52 and 54 and 56 are embedded in the plas-tic of body 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The ends of filaments 34 and 36 are also embedded in the pendant 14 as shown, the ends of .the filaments being formed as shown at 58 and 60 to assure a firm anchorage in the pendant.

Mercury cell 20, if employed to furnish uninterrupted power for the lamp 44, would have a comparatively-short life. A constant illumination may also be uninteresting. In view of this, a novel switch S had been devised. This switch comprises a lever 62 pivoted on a pin 64, which pin is embedded in body 10. Lever 62 extends upwardly and is so formed as .to positively contact shell 22 of cell 20 and to urge the latter into electrical contact with portion 50 of the filament 34. Switch S is also the means of providing the contact with filament 36 which function will be later described. Lever 62 terminates beyond body 10 as at 65 to provide the mean-s to be engaged by the finger of the wearer when it is desired to actuate the switch S.

A passageway 66 is provided in body 10 and which extends from face 32 and terminates at back face 30. A leg 68 is made integral with lever 62 and is formed as shown in FIG. 5, and terminates in a contact blade 70. Blade 70 is in close proximity to filament 36 and terminates in an end-face 72. When switch S is in the ott position as shown in FIGS. l and 3, deflection of filament 36 will not permit the latter to contact face 72 and close the circuit and light the lamp 44. However, if switch S is shifted clockwise to the dotted position of portion 65, as shown in FIG. 3, face 72 will be in a position to be engaged by filament 36. The end of passageway 66 being engaged by leg 68. The distance between filament 36 and face 72 can be varied by the wearer in order to regulate the sensitivity of the intermittent flashing of the lamp 44.

Ear-lobe clamp 12 comprises the customary bow portion 74 which extends into the body 10 and is secured by molding therein as at 76. A lug 78 embraces pin 64 and portion 76, apertures being provided therein so that pin 64 and portion 76 can be soldered therein.

When being worn, the above piece of costume jewelry is fastened to the ear lobe of the wearer in the customary manner with the portion 65 of switch S in the position as in FIG. l which is the off position, as when no illumination is desired. When it is desired to have the lamp operate intermittently, the wearer moves the portion 65 of switch filament 36 as shown in FIG. 4. A slight movement of the head of the wearer will cause filament 36 to engage face 72 and light the lamp 44. Owing to the flexibility of filament 36, the circuit will open and close intermittently, thus giving the effect of a shimmer or sparkle.

It has been determined that this make-and-break operation permits the mercury cell 20 to recuperate, thereby extending its life substantially. However, if a constant illumination is desired, face 72 can be modified so as to assume the position shown by dotted lines, and indicate as 72a in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modification having a body 80 and a pendant 82 substantially as previously described. However, the lamp 84 is placed in a cavity 86 of the pendant 82. Filaments 88 and 99 have portions 92 and 94 which terminate in cavity 86, permitting leads 96 and 98 to be secured by soldering thereto. The other details of the modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are similar to those shown and described with respect to FIGS. 1 through 6.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An article of jewelry, comprising, in combination a body, means for attaching said body to a wearer, means movablysupporting a pendant on said body including Y"a rst and a second filament, a lamp mounted on said body having leads electrically connected thereto, a cell mounted in said body having a plurality of electrical poles, said first filament engaging one of said poles, a switch means mounted on said body, said switch means including a movable lever engaging the other of Said poles, said switch means having a portion electrically connected to said lever positionable in proximity to said second filament for engagement therewith upon deflection of said second filament to establish a circuit including said lamp and said cell, each of said leads extending from said lamp to one of said filaments and secured thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 858,057 6/1907 Boismaure 63-31 2,483,107 9/ 1949 Sharp 24U-6.4 2,798,148 7/ 1957 DiLizio et al 24U-6.4 2,849,819 9/ 1958 Murphy et al. 24U-6.4 X 2,854,563 9/ 1958 Catching 240-6.4 3,159,894 12/1964 Haug 63-14 X FOREIGN PATENTS 936,349 9/ 1963 Great Britain.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner. 

